You are here

AJ's Steakhouse a blend of old, new Vegas

2033064

In its decor, AJ's Steakhouse at the Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Road, takes diners back to the old days in Las Vegas, but the menu puts a contemporary touch on standard steakhouse fare.

Early rock 'n' roll and pop standards from the 1950s and 1960s provide background music while the paintings of old Vegas on the walls give a visual flavor of the way the city used to be.

Chef John Church, formerly of the Eiffel Tower Restaurant and Aureole, applies his philosophy of "cooking with the seasons" to the menu, which will include more fall items in September including venison with bing cherries, lamb T-bone with lamb loin and veal short ribs. He also plans to do more dessert tastings with smaller portions.

"I'm trying to use the best organic produce, steroid-free and hormone-free organic chicken and seasonal products," he says. "Get the best ingredients and combine them with the best cooking techniques and you get the best food."

Despite working within a steakhouse concept, Church says he has a lot of creative freedom. "I can use a lot of Italian and French techniques with American cuisine. But we're not trying to reinvent the wheel."

Operating out of an exhibition kitchen, Church also can get creative with nightly specials.

Seating 125, AJ's Steakhouse is open from 6 to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Comment section guidelines

The below comment section contains thoughts and opinions from users that in no way represent the views of the Las Vegas Review-Journal or Stephens Media LLC. This public platform is intended to provide a forum for users of reviewjournal.com to share ideas, express thoughtful opinions and carry the conversation beyond the article. Users must follow the guidelines under our Commenting Policy and are encouraged to use the moderation tools to help maintain civility and keep discussions on topic.